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        <title>profit | meaning of profit in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English | LDOCE</title>
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<div class="entry_content"><h1 class="pagetitle">profit</h1><div class="dictionary"><div class="wordfams">
            			<span class="asset_intro">Word family</span>
                         <span class="pos">
                    (noun)
                </span> <span title="profit" class="w">profit</span> <a title="profitability" class="crossRef w" href="/dictionary/profitability">profitability</a> <a title="profiteering" class="crossRef w" href="/dictionary/profiteering">profiteering</a> <a title="profiteer" class="crossRef w" href="/dictionary/profiteering">profiteer</a>  <span class="pos">
                    (adjective)
                </span> <a title="profitable" class="crossRef w" href="/dictionary/profitable">profitable</a><span class="opp"><span class="neutral span"> ≠ </span><a title="unprofitable" class="crossRef w" href="/dictionary/unprofitable">unprofitable</a></span> <a title="profitless" class="crossRef w" href="/dictionary/profitless">profitless</a>  <span class="pos">
                    (verb)
                </span> <a title="profit" class="crossRef w" href="/dictionary/profit#profit__4">profit</a> <a title="profiteer" class="crossRef w" href="/dictionary/profiteering">profiteer</a>  <span class="pos">
                    (adverb)
                </span> <a title="profitably" class="crossRef w" href="/dictionary/profitable">profitably</a> <a title="profitlessly" class="crossRef w" href="/dictionary/profitless">profitlessly</a> </div><!-- End of DIV wordfams--><span class="dictentry"><span class="dictionary_intro span">From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English</span><span class="dictlink"><span class="ldoceEntry Entry"><div class="topics_container"><span class="related_topics">Related topics: </span><a class="topic" title="Trade topic" href="/Trade-topic/">Trade</a></div><!-- End of DIV topics_container--><span class="frequent Head"><span class="HWD">profit</span><span class="HYPHENATION">prof‧it</span><span class="HOMNUM">1</span><span class="PronCodes"><span class="neutral span"> /</span><span class="PRON">ˈprɒfɪt</span><span class="AMEVARPRON"><span class="neutral span"> $ </span>ˈprɑː-</span><span class="neutral span">/</span></span> <span class="tooltip LEVEL" title="Core vocabulary: High-frequency"> ●●●</span> <span class="FREQ" title="Top 1000 spoken words">S1</span> <span class="FREQ" title="Top 1000 written words">W1</span><span class="POS"> noun</span><span data-src-mp3="https://d27ucmmhxk51xv.cloudfront.net/media/english/breProns/brelasdeprofit.mp3?version=1.1.55" class="speaker brefile fa fa-volume-up hideOnAmp" title="Play British pronunciation of profit"> </span><span data-src-mp3="https://d27ucmmhxk51xv.cloudfront.net/media/english/ameProns/profit1.mp3?version=1.1.55" class="speaker amefile fa fa-volume-up hideOnAmp" title="Play American pronunciation of profit"> </span></span><span class="newline Sense" id="profit__1"><span class="sensenum span">1</span> <span class="GRAM"><span class="neutral span">[</span>countable, uncountable<span class="neutral span">]</span></span><span class="FIELD">BBT</span><span class="ACTIV">PROFIT</span><span class="DEF"> money that you <a class="defRef" title="gain" href="/dictionary/gain">gain</a> by <a class="defRef" title="selling" href="/dictionary/selling">selling</a> things or doing <a class="defRef" title="business" href="/dictionary/business">business</a>, after your <a class="defRef" title="cost" href="/dictionary/cost">costs</a> have been <a class="defRef" title="pay" href="/dictionary/pay">paid</a></span><span class="OPP"> <span class="synopp span">OPP</span> loss</span><span class="RELATEDWD"><span class="neutral span"> → </span>revenue</span><span class="EXAMPLE"><span data-src-mp3="https://d27ucmmhxk51xv.cloudfront.net/media/english/exaProns/ldoce5_exa001251.mp3?version=1.1.55" class="speaker exafile fa fa-volume-up hideOnAmp" title="Play Example"> </span>The shop’s daily profit is usually around $500.</span><span class="EXAMPLE"><span data-src-mp3="https://d27ucmmhxk51xv.cloudfront.net/media/english/exaProns/p008-001574843.mp3?version=1.1.55" class="speaker exafile fa fa-volume-up hideOnAmp" title="Play Example"> </span>She sold the business and bought a farm with the profits.</span><span class="EXAMPLE"><span data-src-mp3="https://d27ucmmhxk51xv.cloudfront.net/media/english/exaProns/p008-001574847.mp3?version=1.1.55" class="speaker exafile fa fa-volume-up hideOnAmp" title="Play Example"> </span>They sold their house <span class="COLLOINEXA">at a</span> healthy <span class="COLLOINEXA">profit</span>.</span></span><span class="newline Sense" id="profit__2"><span class="sensenum span">2</span> <span class="GRAM"><span class="neutral span">[</span>uncountable<span class="neutral span">]</span></span><span class="REGISTERLAB"> formal</span><span class="ACTIV">GET</span><span class="DEF"> an <a class="defRef" title="advantage" href="/dictionary/advantage">advantage</a> that you gain from doing something</span><span class="EXAMPLE"><span data-src-mp3="https://d27ucmmhxk51xv.cloudfront.net/media/english/exaProns/p008-000298724.mp3?version=1.1.55" class="speaker exafile fa fa-volume-up hideOnAmp" title="Play Example"> </span>There’s no profit in letting meetings drag on.</span></span><span class="Tail"><span class="Crossref"><span class="neutral span"> →</span><a title="non-profit" class="crossRef" href="/dictionary/non-profit"> <span class="REFHWD">non-profit</span></a></span><span class="ColloBox"><span class="heading span">COLLOCATIONS</span><span class="Section"><span class="SECHEADING">adjectives</span><span class="Collocate"><span class="collo COLLOC">a big/huge profit</span><span class="EXAMPLE">Drug companies make huge profits.</span></span><span class="Collocate"><span class="collo COLLOC">a quick profit</span><span class="COLLGLOSS"><span class="neutral span"> (=</span>happening quickly<span class="neutral span">)</span></span><span class="EXAMPLE">They were only interested in a quick profit.</span></span><span class="Collocate"><span class="collo COLLOC">a good profit</span><span class="EXAMPLE">There is a good profit to be made in selling cars.</span></span><span class="Collocate"><span class="collo COLLOC">a substantial profit</span><span class="EXAMPLE">The agent then sells the land for a substantial profit to someone else.</span></span><span class="Collocate"><span class="collo COLLOC">a healthy/handsome/tidy profit</span><span class="COLLGLOSS"><span class="neutral span"> (=</span>big<span class="neutral span">)</span></span><span class="EXAMPLE">By the second year, the restaurant began to make a healthy profit.</span></span><span class="Collocate"><span class="collo COLLOC">a small/modest profit</span><span class="EXAMPLE">The business managed to produce a small profit last year.</span></span><span class="Collocate"><span class="collo COLLOC">net profit</span><span class="COLLGLOSS"><span class="neutral span"> (=</span>after tax and costs are paid<span class="neutral span">)</span></span><span class="EXAMPLE">The company made a net profit of $10.5 million.</span></span><span class="Collocate"><span class="collo COLLOC">gross profit</span><span class="Variant"><span class="neutral span"> (</span><span class="LINKWORD">also</span><span class="LEXVAR"> pre-tax profit</span><span class="neutral span">)</span></span><span class="COLLGLOSS"><span class="neutral span"> (=</span>before tax and costs are paid<span class="neutral span">)</span></span><span class="EXAMPLE">The hotel group made a gross profit of £51.9 million in 2008. </span></span><span class="Collocate"><span class="collo COLLOC">trading/operating profit</span><span class="COLLGLOSS"><span class="neutral span"> (=</span>profit relating to a company’s normal activities<span class="neutral span">)</span></span><span class="EXAMPLE">Both turnover and operating profits were lower.</span></span></span><span class="Section"><span class="SECHEADING">verbs</span><span class="Collocate"><span class="collo COLLOC">make a profit</span><span class="EXAMPLE">We are in business to make a profit.</span></span><span class="Collocate"><span class="collo COLLOC">turn/earn a profit</span><span class="COLLGLOSS"><span class="neutral span"> (=</span>make a profit<span class="neutral span">)</span></span><span class="EXAMPLE">Without the liquor sales, the store could not turn a profit.</span></span><span class="Collocate"><span class="collo COLLOC">show a profit</span><span class="COLLGLOSS"><span class="neutral span"> (=</span>make a profit<span class="neutral span">)</span></span><span class="EXAMPLE">The business will not show a profit this year.</span></span><span class="Collocate"><span class="collo COLLOC">report/post a profit</span><span class="COLLGLOSS"><span class="neutral span"> (=</span>officially announce a profit<span class="neutral span">)</span></span><span class="EXAMPLE">The company reported net profits of $3.6 million for fiscal year 2006.</span></span><span class="Collocate"><span class="collo COLLOC">generate profit(s)</span><span class="EXAMPLE">We have the capacity to generate more profit.</span></span><span class="Collocate"><span class="collo COLLOC">boost profits</span><span class="COLLGLOSS"><span class="neutral span"> (=</span>make them increase<span class="neutral span">)</span></span><span class="EXAMPLE">They aim to boost profits by slashing costs.</span></span><span class="Collocate"><span class="collo COLLOC">maximize profits</span><span class="COLLGLOSS"><span class="neutral span"> (=</span>make them as big as possible<span class="neutral span">)</span></span><span class="EXAMPLE">Every firm tries to maximize its profits.</span></span><span class="Collocate"><span class="collo COLLOC">profits are up/down</span><span class="EXAMPLE">Pre-tax profits were up 21.5%.</span></span><span class="Collocate"><span class="collo COLLOC">profits rise/increase/grow</span><span class="EXAMPLE">Half of the firms surveyed expected profits to rise.</span></span><span class="Collocate"><span class="collo COLLOC">profits soar/leap</span><span class="COLLGLOSS"><span class="neutral span"> (=</span>increase by a large amount<span class="neutral span">)</span></span></span><span class="Collocate"><span class="collo COLLOC">profits fall</span><span class="EXAMPLE">The group saw profits fall from £24m to £17.8m.</span></span><span class="Collocate"><span class="collo COLLOC">profits slump/plunge</span><span class="COLLGLOSS"><span class="neutral span"> (=</span>fall by a large amount<span class="neutral span">)</span></span><span class="EXAMPLE">The group’s pre-tax profits slumped to £25.5m.</span></span></span></span>                                                                                                  <div id='ad_contentslot_1' class='am-default contentslot'>
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                                     <span class="ThesBox"><span class="heading span">THESAURUS</span><span class="Section"><span class="Exponent"><span class="display EXP">profit</span><span class="DEF"> money that you gain by selling things or doing business, after your costs have been paid</span><span class="EXAMPLE">Our profits are down this year.</span><span class="EXAMPLE">The big oil companies have made enormous profits following the rise in oil prices.</span></span><span class="Exponent"><span class="display EXP">earnings</span><span class="DEF"> the <a class="defRef" title="profit" href="/dictionary/profit">profit</a> that a <a class="defRef" title="company" href="/dictionary/company">company</a> makes</span><span class="EXAMPLE">The company said it expected fourth-quarter earnings to be lower than last year’s results.</span><span class="EXAMPLE">Pre-tax earnings have grown from $6.3 million to $9.4 million. </span></span><span class="Exponent"><span class="display EXP">return</span><span class="DEF"> the profit that you get from an <a class="defRef" title="investment" href="/dictionary/investment">investment</a></span><span class="EXAMPLE">You should get a good return on your investment.</span><span class="EXAMPLE">We didn’t get much of a return on our money.</span><span class="EXAMPLE">They’re promising high returns on investments of over $100,000.</span></span><span class="Exponent"><span class="display EXP">turnover</span><span class="DEF"> the <a class="defRef" title="amount" href="/dictionary/amount">amount</a> of business done during a <a class="defRef" title="particular" href="/dictionary/particular">particular</a> <a class="defRef" title="period" href="/dictionary/period">period</a></span><span class="EXAMPLE">The illicit drugs industry has an annual turnover of some £200bn.</span></span><span class="Exponent"><span class="display EXP">takings</span><span class="DEF"> the money that a business, <a class="defRef" title="shop" href="/dictionary/shop">shop</a> etc gets from selling its goods in a <a class="defRef" title="day" href="/dictionary/day">day</a>, <a class="defRef" title="week" href="/dictionary/week">week</a>, <a class="defRef" title="month" href="/dictionary/month">month</a> etc</span><span class="EXAMPLE">He counted the night’s takings.</span><span class="EXAMPLE">This week’s takings are up on last week’s. </span></span><span class="Exponent"><span class="display EXP">interest</span><span class="DEF"> money paid to you by a <a class="defRef" title="bank" href="/dictionary/bank">bank</a> or other <a class="defRef" title="financial" href="/dictionary/financial">financial</a> <a class="defRef" title="institution" href="/dictionary/institution">institution</a> when you keep money in an <a class="defRef" title="account" href="/dictionary/account">account</a> there</span><span class="EXAMPLE">They are offering a high rate of interest on deposits of over £3,000.</span><span class="EXAMPLE">The money is still earning interest in your account.</span></span><span class="Exponent"><span class="display EXP">dividend</span><span class="DEF"> a part of a company’s profit that is <a class="defRef" title="divide" href="/dictionary/divide">divided</a> among the people who have <a class="defRef" title="share" href="/dictionary/share">shares</a> in the company</span><span class="EXAMPLE">Shareholders will receive a dividend of 10p for each share.</span><span class="EXAMPLE">The company said it will pay shareholders a final dividend of 700 cents a share.</span></span></span></span>                                                                                                  <div id='ad_contentslot_2' class='am-default contentslot'>
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                                     </span></span></span><span class="asset div"><div class="yellow_box"><span class="asset_intro">Examples from the Corpus</span></div><!-- End of DIV yellow_box--></span><span class="assetlink"><span class="exaGroup cexa1 exaGroup"><span class="title">profit</span><span class="cexa1g1 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span>For the first time, the company's <a class="defRef" title="annual" href="/dictionary/annual">annual</a> <span class="NodeW">profits</span> were over $1 million.</span><span class="cexa1g1 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span>The <a class="defRef" title="answer" href="/dictionary/answer">answer</a> is that <a class="defRef" title="firm" href="/dictionary/firm">firms</a> will want to use the most <a class="defRef" title="efficient" href="/dictionary/efficient">efficient</a> <a class="defRef" title="technique" href="/dictionary/technique">technique</a> because it <a class="defRef" title="yield" href="/dictionary/yield">yields</a> the <a class="defRef" title="great" href="/dictionary/great">greatest</a> <span class="NodeW">profit</span>.</span><span class="cexa1g1 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span>Of <a class="defRef" title="course" href="/dictionary/course">course</a>, <a class="defRef" title="super" href="/dictionary/super">Super</a> Show is not about haute <a class="defRef" title="couture" href="/dictionary/couture">couture</a>, but about haute <span class="NodeW">profits</span>.</span><span class="cexa1g1 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span>They made a <a class="defRef" title="huge" href="/dictionary/huge">huge</a> <span class="NodeW">profit</span> when they <a class="defRef" title="sell" href="/dictionary/sell">sold</a> the business.</span><span class="cexa1g1 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span>They don't <a class="defRef" title="care" href="/dictionary/care">care</a> who they sell <a class="defRef" title="weapon" href="/dictionary/weapon">weapons</a> to. All they are <a class="defRef" title="interest" href="/dictionary/interest">interested</a> in is <span class="NodeW">profit</span>.</span><span class="cexa1g1 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span>At the <a class="defRef" title="pre-tax" href="/dictionary/pre-tax">pre-tax</a> <a class="defRef" title="level" href="/dictionary/level">level</a>, <span class="NodeW">profits</span> were down 90.0% at £160,000.</span><span class="cexa1g1 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span>The Profitboss <a class="defRef" title="encourage" href="/dictionary/encourage">encourages</a> <a class="defRef" title="unconventional" href="/dictionary/unconventional">unconventional</a> ways of making <span class="NodeW">profit</span>, encouraging his people to be <a class="defRef" title="creative" href="/dictionary/creative">creative</a> and take <a class="defRef" title="initiative" href="/dictionary/initiative">initiative</a>.</span><span class="cexa1g1 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span>In Marx, <span class="NodeW">profit</span> is the <a class="defRef" title="consequence" href="/dictionary/consequence">consequence</a> of <a class="defRef" title="exploitation" href="/dictionary/exploitation">exploitation</a>, not a <a class="defRef" title="return" href="/dictionary/return">return</a> to entrepreneurial <a class="defRef" title="risk-taking" href="/dictionary/risk-taking">risk-taking</a> <a class="defRef" title="activity" href="/dictionary/activity">activity</a>.</span><span class="cexa1g1 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span>There's no <span class="NodeW">profit</span> to be <a class="defRef" title="found" href="/dictionary/found#found__2">found</a> in <a class="defRef" title="lie" href="/dictionary/lie">lying</a>.</span><span class="cexa1g1 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span>We <a class="defRef" title="aim" href="/dictionary/aim">aim</a> to <a class="defRef" title="increase" href="/dictionary/increase">increase</a> our <span class="NodeW">profits</span> by at least 5% every year.</span><span class="cexa1g1 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span>If an <a class="defRef" title="extension" href="/dictionary/extension">extension</a> is not <a class="defRef" title="obtain" href="/dictionary/obtain">obtained</a> <a class="defRef" title="subsequent" href="/dictionary/subsequent">subsequent</a> <span class="NodeW">profit</span> costs may be <a class="defRef" title="defer" href="/dictionary/defer">deferred</a>.</span><span class="cexa1g1 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span>Pre-tax <span class="NodeW">profits</span>, <a class="defRef" title="exclude" href="/dictionary/exclude">excluding</a> an <a class="defRef" title="accounting" href="/dictionary/accounting">accounting</a> change, <a class="defRef" title="fall" href="/dictionary/fall">fell</a> by 35% to £185<a class="defRef" title="m" href="/dictionary/m">m</a>.</span><span class="cexa1g1 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span>All the <span class="NodeW">profits</span> from the <a class="defRef" title="auction" href="/dictionary/auction">auction</a> will go to <a class="defRef" title="cancer" href="/dictionary/cancer">cancer</a> <a class="defRef" title="research" href="/dictionary/research">research</a>.</span></span></span><span class="assetlink"><span class="exaGroup cexa1 exaGroup"><span class="title">at a ... profit</span><span class="cexa1g2 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span>Whatever his <a class="defRef" title="decision" href="/dictionary/decision">decision</a>, it will be aimed <span class="NodeW">at making profit</span>.</span><span class="cexa1g2 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span><a class="defRef" title="deliberate" href="/dictionary/deliberate">Deliberate</a> <a class="defRef" title="assistance" href="/dictionary/assistance">assistance</a> to <a class="defRef" title="economic" href="/dictionary/economic">economic</a> <a class="defRef" title="growth" href="/dictionary/growth">growth</a> went <a class="defRef" title="hand" href="/dictionary/hand">hand</a> in hand with <a class="defRef" title="administrative" href="/dictionary/administrative">administrative</a> <a class="defRef" title="reform" href="/dictionary/reform">reform</a> aimed <span class="NodeW">at channelling its profits</span> firmly into <a class="defRef" title="princely" href="/dictionary/princely">princely</a> treasuries.</span><span class="cexa1g2 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span>The company this year <a class="defRef" title="announce" href="/dictionary/announce">announced</a> a reorganization aimed <span class="NodeW">at stemming the profit</span> <a class="defRef" title="decline" href="/dictionary/decline">decline</a>.</span><span class="cexa1g2 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span><a class="defRef" title="heaven" href="/dictionary/heaven">Heaven</a> knows how <a class="defRef" title="dealer" href="/dictionary/dealer">dealers</a> can sell these <a class="defRef" title="car" href="/dictionary/car">cars</a> <span class="NodeW">at a profit</span>.</span><span class="cexa1g2 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span>He'd been <a class="defRef" title="run" href="/dictionary/run">running</a> the <a class="defRef" title="clinic" href="/dictionary/clinic">clinic</a> <span class="NodeW">at a substantial profit</span> for nearly ten years.</span><span class="cexa1g2 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span>Out came Dakota <a class="defRef" title="farmer" href="/dictionary/farmer">farmers</a> who <a class="defRef" title="despair" href="/dictionary/despair">despaired</a> <span class="NodeW">at the meager profits</span> they made <a class="defRef" title="grow" href="/dictionary/grow">growing</a> <a class="defRef" title="wheat" href="/dictionary/wheat">wheat</a>.</span><span class="cexa1g2 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span>It is much more <a class="defRef" title="difficult" href="/dictionary/difficult">difficult</a> to get <span class="NodeW">at property profits</span> than at share profits - everyone has to <a class="defRef" title="live" href="/dictionary/live">live</a> somewhere.</span><span class="cexa1g2 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span>They took <a class="defRef" title="asset" href="/dictionary/asset">assets</a> on to their <a class="defRef" title="book" href="/dictionary/book">books</a> <a class="defRef" title="assume" href="/dictionary/assume">assuming</a> they would sell them <span class="NodeW">at a profit</span> shortly afterwards.</span></span></span></span><span class="dictentry"><span class="dictlink"><span class="ldoceEntry Entry" id="profit__4"><span class="frequent Head"><span class="HWD">profit</span><span class="HYPHENATION">profit</span><span class="HOMNUM">2</span> <span class="tooltip LEVEL" title="Core vocabulary: Lower-frequency"> ●○○</span><span class="POS"> verb</span><span class="GRAM"><span class="neutral span"> [</span>intransitive, transitive<span class="neutral span">]</span></span><span data-src-mp3="https://d27ucmmhxk51xv.cloudfront.net/media/english/breProns/brelasdeprofit.mp3?version=1.1.55" class="speaker brefile fa fa-volume-up hideOnAmp" title="Play British pronunciation of profit"> </span><span data-src-mp3="https://d27ucmmhxk51xv.cloudfront.net/media/english/ameProns/profit1.mp3?version=1.1.55" class="speaker amefile fa fa-volume-up hideOnAmp" title="Play American pronunciation of profit"> </span></span><span class="Sense" id="profit__5"><span class="sensenum span">1</span> <span class="REGISTERLAB">formal</span><span class="ACTIV">USEFUL</span><span class="DEF"> to be <a class="defRef" title="useful" href="/dictionary/useful">useful</a> or <a class="defRef" title="helpful" href="/dictionary/helpful">helpful</a> to someone</span><span class="GramExa"><span class="PROPFORM">profit somebody to do something</span><span class="EXAMPLE"><span data-src-mp3="https://d27ucmmhxk51xv.cloudfront.net/media/english/exaProns/p008-001770760.mp3?version=1.1.55" class="speaker exafile fa fa-volume-up hideOnAmp" title="Play Example"> </span>It might profit you to learn about the company before your interview.</span></span><span class="GramExa"><span class="PROPFORMPREP">profit by/from</span><span class="EXAMPLE"><span data-src-mp3="https://d27ucmmhxk51xv.cloudfront.net/media/english/exaProns/p008-001574873.mp3?version=1.1.55" class="speaker exafile fa fa-volume-up hideOnAmp" title="Play Example"> </span>There are lessons in these stories that all children can profit by.</span></span></span><span class="Sense" id="profit__6"><span class="sensenum span">2</span> <span class="DEF">to get money from doing something</span><span class="GramExa"><span class="PROPFORMPREP">profit by/from</span><span class="EXAMPLE"><span data-src-mp3="https://d27ucmmhxk51xv.cloudfront.net/media/english/exaProns/p008-001574879.mp3?version=1.1.55" class="speaker exafile fa fa-volume-up hideOnAmp" title="Play Example"> </span>Some industries, such as shipbuilding, clearly profited from the war.</span></span></span></span></span><span class="asset div"><a title="" class="crossRef" href="/dictionary/profit#profit__14">→ See <span class="Crossrefto">Verb table</span></a></span><span class="asset div"><div class="yellow_box"><span class="asset_intro">Examples from the Corpus</span></div><!-- End of DIV yellow_box--></span><span class="assetlink"><span class="exaGroup cexa2 exaGroup"><span class="title">profit</span><span class="cexa2g1 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span>In the <a class="defRef" title="end" href="/dictionary/end">end</a>, the <a class="defRef" title="stock" href="/dictionary/stock">stocks</a> <a class="defRef" title="soar" href="/dictionary/soar">soared</a> and everyone <span class="NodeW">profited</span>.</span><span class="cexa2g1 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span>As long as he was <a class="defRef" title="win" href="/dictionary/win">winning</a>, <a class="defRef" title="reader" href="/dictionary/reader">readers</a> could <span class="NodeW">profit</span>.</span><span class="cexa2g1 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span>It <span class="NodeW">profited</span> from their <a class="defRef" title="energy" href="/dictionary/energy">energy</a> and their <a class="defRef" title="accumulate" href="/dictionary/accumulate">accumulated</a> <a class="defRef" title="capital" href="/dictionary/capital">capital</a>.</span><span class="cexa2g1 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span><a class="defRef" title="allow" href="/dictionary/allow">Allowing</a> <a class="defRef" title="insider" href="/dictionary/insider">insiders</a> - ie, better-informed people - to <span class="NodeW">profit</span> from <a class="defRef" title="trade" href="/dictionary/trade">trading</a> <a class="defRef" title="means" href="/dictionary/means">means</a> that share <a class="defRef" title="price" href="/dictionary/price">prices</a> <a class="defRef" title="reflect" href="/dictionary/reflect">reflect</a> <a class="defRef" title="information" href="/dictionary/information">information</a> more quickly.</span><span class="cexa2g1 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span><a class="defRef" title="investor" href="/dictionary/investor">Investors</a> <a class="defRef" title="buy" href="/dictionary/buy">buying</a> these new <a class="defRef" title="issue" href="/dictionary/issue">issues</a> also <span class="NodeW">profited</span> handsomely.</span></span></span><span class="assetlink"><span class="exaGroup cexa2 exaGroup"><span class="title">profit by/from</span><span class="cexa2g2 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span><a class="defRef" title="revenue" href="/dictionary/revenue">Revenues</a> are up 65% and <span class="NodeW">profits by</span> 150%.</span><span class="cexa2g2 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span><a class="defRef" title="listen" href="/dictionary/listen">Listen</a> to his <a class="defRef" title="story" href="/dictionary/story">story</a>, and <span class="NodeW">profit by</span> it.</span><span class="cexa2g2 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span><a class="defRef" title="overall" href="/dictionary/overall">Overall</a>, the <a class="defRef" title="insurance" href="/dictionary/insurance">insurance</a> <a class="defRef" title="industry" href="/dictionary/industry">industry</a> <span class="NodeW">profits from</span> <a class="defRef" title="litigation" href="/dictionary/litigation">litigation</a>.</span><span class="cexa2g2 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span><a class="defRef" title="network" href="/dictionary/network">Networks</a> are making <a class="defRef" title="heavy" href="/dictionary/heavy">heavy</a> <span class="NodeW">profits from</span> <a class="defRef" title="news" href="/dictionary/news">news</a>, and <a class="defRef" title="on-air" href="/dictionary/on-air">on-air</a> <a class="defRef" title="talent" href="/dictionary/talent">talent</a> is being paid more than ever to <a class="defRef" title="communicate" href="/dictionary/communicate">communicate</a> to the <a class="defRef" title="public" href="/dictionary/public">public</a>.</span><span class="cexa2g2 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span>It also <a class="defRef" title="bring" href="/dictionary/bring">brings</a> in a good two-thirds of its <span class="NodeW">profits from</span> overseas.</span><span class="cexa2g2 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span>The <a class="defRef" title="suit" href="/dictionary/suit">suit</a> also said <a class="defRef" title="several" href="/dictionary/several#several__3">several</a> <a class="defRef" title="partner" href="/dictionary/partner">partners</a> in the firm personally <span class="NodeW">profited from</span> the <a class="defRef" title="fake" href="/dictionary/fake">fake</a> <a class="defRef" title="sale" href="/dictionary/sale">sale</a> of seven <a class="defRef" title="western" href="/dictionary/western">Western</a> <a class="defRef" title="saving" href="/dictionary/saving">Savings</a> <a class="defRef" title="branch" href="/dictionary/branch">branch</a> offices.</span><span class="cexa2g2 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span>The bank would <span class="NodeW">profit from</span> this, but the investors might not <a class="defRef" title="fair" href="/dictionary/fair">fair</a> as well.</span></span></span><span class="assetlink"><span class="exaGroup cexa2 exaGroup"><span class="title">profit by/from</span><span class="cexa2g3 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span>Revenues are up 65% and <span class="NodeW">profits by</span> 150%.</span><span class="cexa2g3 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span>Listen to his story, and <span class="NodeW">profit by</span> it.</span><span class="cexa2g3 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span>Overall, the insurance industry <span class="NodeW">profits from</span> litigation.</span><span class="cexa2g3 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span>Networks are making heavy <span class="NodeW">profits from</span> news, and on-air talent is being paid more than ever to communicate to the public.</span><span class="cexa2g3 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span>It also brings in a good two-thirds of its <span class="NodeW">profits from</span> overseas.</span><span class="cexa2g3 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span>The suit also said several partners in the firm personally <span class="NodeW">profited from</span> the fake sale of seven Western Savings branch offices.</span><span class="cexa2g3 exa"><span class="neutral span">• </span>The bank would <span class="NodeW">profit from</span> this, but the investors might not fair as well.</span></span></span></span><span class="dictentry"><span class="dictionary_intro span">From Longman Business Dictionary</span><span class="dictlink"><span class="bussdictEntry Entry" id="profit__7"><span class="Head"><span class="HWD">profit</span><span class="HYPHENATION">prof-it</span><span class="HOMNUM">1</span><span class="PronCodes"><span class="neutral span"> /</span><span class="PRON">ˈprɒfətˈprɑː-</span><span class="neutral span">/</span></span><span class="POS"> noun</span><span class="GRAM"><span class="neutral span"> [</span>countable, uncountable<span class="neutral span">]</span></span></span><span class="Sense" id="profit__8"><span class="sensenum span">1</span><span class="FIELDXX">ACCOUNTING</span><span class="FIELDXX">FINANCE</span><span class="DEF">money that you gain from selling something, or from doing business in a particular period of time, after taking <a class="defRef" title="away" href="/dictionary/away#away__12">away</a> costs</span><span class="EXAMPLE">A business has to <span class="COLLOINEXA">make a profit</span>.</span><span class="EXAMPLE">Since it was set up two years ago, the company hasn’t <span class="COLLOINEXA">earned a profit</span> but could break even this year.</span><span class="EXAMPLE">Coca-Cola <span class="COLLOINEXA">reported</span> strong <span class="COLLOINEXA">profits</span> in the latest quarter.</span><span class="EXAMPLE">They will have to produce and sell more than 300,000 cars a year to <span class="COLLOINEXA">turn</span><span class="GLOSS"><span class="neutral span"> (=</span>make<span class="neutral span">)</span></span><span class="COLLOINEXA"> a profit</span> on the model.</span><span class="EXAMPLE">We’ve got to see the economy recover, and we’ve got to see <span class="COLLOINEXA">corporate profits</span><span class="GLOSS"><span class="neutral span"> (=</span>those of companies in general<span class="neutral span">)</span></span> increase.</span><span class="EXAMPLE">They controlled the market for the stock and drove it up to artificially high prices, netting themselves and others <span class="COLLOINEXA">excess profits</span><span class="GLOSS"><span class="neutral span"> (=</span>profits that people think are too high<span class="neutral span">)</span></span>.</span><span class="EXAMPLE">The company said that <span class="COLLOINEXA">sales and profits</span> increased in four of its major divisions.</span><span class="Box"><span class="HEADING"><span class="neutral span"> – </span></span><span class="EXPL"> <span class="EXPR">Gain</span> is the financial profit that a person or company makes. People often use the word 'gain' when they believe that money is the only thing that someone is interested in <span class="EXAMPLE">Developers continue to cut down the forest for economic gain.</span><span class="EXPR">Proceeds</span> are all the money that you get from selling something, or from something such as a show or sports event <span class="EXAMPLE">The proceeds from the sale of the house went to his brother.</span> A <span class="EXPR">surplus</span> is the amount of money that remains after a company or organization has paid all its costs, charges, wages etc <span class="EXAMPLE">The division’s surplus last year was under $10 million.</span><span class="EXPR">Interest</span> is an amount of profit that you make at an agreed rate when you put money into a bank or when you lend money to someone <span class="EXAMPLE">The best rate of interest the banks can offer is around 7%.</span><span class="EXPR">Return</span> is the total profit that you get as a result of putting money into a bank, company etc <span class="EXAMPLE">How can I get the best return on my capital?</span><span class="EXAMPLE">Returns from farming have been declining for many years.</span><span class="EXPR">Yield</span> is the exact amount of profit that you get as a result of lending money to a company, government etc <span class="EXAMPLE">Shareholders should not expect a high yield this year.</span></span></span></span><span class="Sense" id="profit__9"><span class="sensenum span">2</span><span class="LEXUNIT">first-quarter/second-half/etc profit</span><span class="FIELDXX">ACCOUNTING</span><span class="FIELDXX">FINANCE</span><span class="DEF"> profits for the first three-month period, <a class="defRef" title="second" href="/dictionary/second#second__13">second</a> six-month period etc of the financial year</span><span class="EXAMPLE">The insurer recorded fourth-quarter profit of 86 cents a share, compared with year-earlier net income of 82 cents.</span></span><span class="SubEntry"><span class="Tail"><span class="Crossref"><span class="neutral span"> →</span><a title="accumulated profit" class="crossRef" href="/dictionary/accumulated-profit"> <span class="REFHWD">accumulated profit</span></a></span></span></span><span class="SubEntry"><span class="Tail"><span class="Crossref"><span class="neutral span"> →</span><a title="after-tax profit" class="crossRef" href="/dictionary/after-tax-profit"> <span class="REFHWD">after-tax profit</span></a></span></span></span><span class="SubEntry"><span class="Tail"><span class="Crossref"><span class="neutral span"> →</span><a title="book profit" class="crossRef" href="/dictionary/book-profit"> <span class="REFHWD">book profit</span></a></span></span></span><span class="SubEntry"><span class="Tail"><span class="Crossref"><span class="neutral span"> →</span><a title="consolidated profit" class="crossRef" href="/dictionary/consolidated-profit"> <span class="REFHWD">consolidated profit</span></a></span></span></span><span class="SubEntry"><span class="Tail"><span class="Crossref"><span class="neutral span"> →</span><a title="distributable profit" class="crossRef" href="/dictionary/distributable-profit"> <span class="REFHWD">distributable profit</span></a></span></span></span><span class="SubEntry"><span class="Tail"><span class="Crossref"><span class="neutral span"> →</span><a title="gross profit" class="crossRef" href="/dictionary/gross-profit#gross-profit__2"> <span class="REFHWD">gross profit</span></a></span></span></span><span class="SubEntry"><span class="Tail"><span class="Crossref"><span class="neutral span"> →</span><a title="net profit" class="crossRef" href="/dictionary/net-profit"> <span class="REFHWD">net profit</span></a></span></span></span><span class="SubEntry"><span class="Tail"><span class="Crossref"><span class="neutral span"> →</span><a title="operating profit" class="crossRef" href="/dictionary/operating-profit"> <span class="REFHWD">operating profit</span></a></span></span></span><span class="SubEntry"><span class="Tail"><span class="Crossref"><span class="neutral span"> →</span><a title="paper profit" class="crossRef" href="/dictionary/paper-profit"> <span class="REFHWD">paper profit</span></a></span></span></span><span class="SubEntry"><span class="Tail"><span class="Crossref"><span class="neutral span"> →</span><a title="pre-tax profit" class="crossRef" href="/dictionary/pre-tax-profit"> <span class="REFHWD">pre-tax profit</span></a></span></span></span><span class="SubEntry"><span class="Tail"><span class="Crossref"><span class="neutral span"> →</span><a title="pure profit" class="crossRef" href="/dictionary/pure-profit"> <span class="REFHWD">pure profit</span></a></span></span></span><span class="SubEntry"><span class="Tail"><span class="Crossref"><span class="neutral span"> →</span><a title="retained profit" class="crossRef" href="/dictionary/retained-profit"> <span class="REFHWD">retained profit</span></a></span></span></span><span class="SubEntry"><span class="Tail"><span class="Crossref"><span class="neutral span"> →</span><a title="taxable profit" class="crossRef" href="/dictionary/taxable-profit"> <span class="REFHWD">taxable profit</span></a></span></span></span><span class="SubEntry"><span class="Tail"><span class="Crossref"><span class="neutral span"> →</span><a title="trading profit" class="crossRef" href="/dictionary/trading-profit"> <span class="REFHWD">trading profit</span></a></span></span></span><span class="SubEntry"><span class="Tail"><span class="Crossref"><span class="neutral span"> →</span><a title="undistributed profit" class="crossRef" href="/dictionary/undistributed-profit"> <span class="REFHWD">undistributed profit</span></a></span></span></span><span class="SubEntry"><span class="Tail"><span class="Crossref"><span class="neutral span"> →</span><a title="windfall profit" class="crossRef" href="/dictionary/windfall-profit"> <span class="REFHWD">windfall profit</span></a></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="dictentry"><span class="dictlink"><span class="bussdictEntry Entry" id="profit__10"><span class="Head"><span class="HWD">profit</span><span class="HYPHENATION">profit</span><span class="HOMNUM">2</span><span class="POS"> verb</span><span class="GRAM"><span class="neutral span"> [</span>intransitive<span class="neutral span">]</span></span></span><span class="Sense" id="profit__11"> <span class="DEF">to gain money from an <a class="defRef" title="event" href="/dictionary/event">event</a>, selling something etc</span><span class="GramExa"><span class="PROPFORM">profit by/from something</span><span class="EXAMPLE">Tiger profited by anticipating the fall in the Tokyo stock market.</span><span class="EXAMPLE">Coca-Cola profited from a weaker dollar and higher sales overseas.</span></span></span></span></span><span class="asset div"><a title="" class="crossRef" href="/dictionary/profit#profit__14">→ See <span class="Crossrefto">Verb table</span></a></span></span><span class="etym"><span class="asset_intro">Origin</span> <span class="Head"><span class="HWD">profit</span><span class="HOMNUM">1</span></span> <span class="Sense" id="profit__13"><span class="CENTURY"><span class="neutral span">(</span>1200-1300<span class="neutral span">)</span></span> <span class="LANG">Old French</span> <span class="LANG">Latin</span> <span class="ORIGIN">profectus</span>, past participle of <span class="ORIGIN">proficere</span>; <span class="neutral span"> → </span><a title="PROFICIENT" class="crossRef" href="/dictionary/proficient#proficient__5"><span class="REFHWD">PROFICIENT</span></a></span></span>
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                    <a  href="/dictionary/for-profit" title="Definition of for-profit">
                        <span class='arl5'>for-profit</span>
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                        <span class='arl5'>net profit</span>
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                        <span class='arl5'>non-profit</span>
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                        <span class='arl5'>book profit</span>
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                        <span class='arl5'>pure profit</span>
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                        <span class='arl5'>gross profit</span>
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                        <span class='arl5'>paper profit</span>
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        <a href="https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/gauge">gauge</a>
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            <a href="https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/gauge"> an instrument for measuring the size or amount of something</a>
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                                                                <div class="assetlink"><div class="entry" id="profit__14"><div class="verbTable"><div class="yellow_box"><span class="asset_intro">Verb table</span></div><span class="lemma">profit</span><table class="simpleForm"><tr><td colspan="3" class="header">Simple Form</td></tr><td class="col1">Present</td><tr><td class="firsts col2">I, you, we, they</td><td><span class="aux">profit</span><span class="verb_form"/></td></tr><td class="col2">he, she, it</td><td><span class="aux">profits</span><span class="verb_form"/></td><tr>
    <td class="view_more" colspan="3">
        <span onclick="viewTenses('simpleForm', 'table-row', 'none', 'table-cell')">
            &gt; View More
        </span>
    </td>
</tr>
<tr class="next_tenses"><td class="col1">Past</td></tr><tr class="next_tenses"><td class="col2">I, you, he, she, it, we, they</td><td class="col2"><span class="aux">profited</span><span class="verb_form"/></td></tr><tr class="next_tenses"><td class="col1">Present perfect</td></tr><tr class="next_tenses"><td class="col2">I, you, we, they</td><td class="col2"><span class="aux">have </span><span class="verb_form">profited</span></td></tr><tr class="next_tenses"/><tr class="next_tenses"><td class="col2">he, she, it</td><td class="col2"><span class="aux">has </span><span class="verb_form">profited</span></td></tr><tr class="next_tenses"><td class="col1">Past perfect</td></tr><tr class="next_tenses"><td class="col2">I, you, he, she, it, we, they</td><td class="col2"><span class="aux">had </span><span class="verb_form">profited</span></td></tr><tr class="next_tenses"><td class="col1">Future</td></tr><tr class="next_tenses"><td class="col2">I, you, he, she, it, we, they</td><td class="col2"><span class="aux">will </span><span class="verb_form">profit</span></td></tr><tr class="next_tenses"><td class="col1">Future perfect</td></tr><tr class="next_tenses"><td class="col2">I, you, he, she, it, we, they</td><td class="col2"><span class="aux">will have </span><span class="verb_form">profited</span></td></tr><tr>
    <td class="view_less" colspan="3">
        <span onclick="viewTenses('simpleForm', 'none', 'table-cell', 'none')">
            &gt; View Less
        </span>
    </td>
</tr>
</table><table class="continuousForm"><tr><td colspan="3" class="header">Continuous Form</td></tr><td class="col1">Present</td><tr><td class="firsts col2">I</td><td><span class="aux">am </span><span class="verb_form">profiting</span></td></tr><td class="col2">he, she, it</td><td><span class="aux">is </span><span class="verb_form">profiting</span></td><tr>
    <td class="view_more" colspan="3">
        <span onclick="viewTenses('continuousForm', 'table-row', 'none', 'table-cell')">
            &gt; View More
        </span>
    </td>
</tr>
<tr class="next_tenses"/><tr class="next_tenses"><td class="col2">you, we, they</td><td class="col2"><span class="aux">are </span><span class="verb_form">profiting</span></td></tr><tr class="next_tenses"><td class="col1">Past</td></tr><tr class="next_tenses"><td class="col2">I, he, she, it</td><td class="col2"><span class="aux">was </span><span class="verb_form">profiting</span></td></tr><tr class="next_tenses"/><tr class="next_tenses"><td class="col2">you, we, they</td><td class="col2"><span class="aux">were </span><span class="verb_form">profiting</span></td></tr><tr class="next_tenses"><td class="col1">Present perfect</td></tr><tr class="next_tenses"><td class="col2">I, you, we, they</td><td class="col2"><span class="aux">have been </span><span class="verb_form">profiting</span></td></tr><tr class="next_tenses"/><tr class="next_tenses"><td class="col2">he, she, it</td><td class="col2"><span class="aux">has been </span><span class="verb_form">profiting</span></td></tr><tr class="next_tenses"><td class="col1">Past perfect</td></tr><tr class="next_tenses"><td class="col2">I, you, he, she, it, we, they</td><td class="col2"><span class="aux">had been </span><span class="verb_form">profiting</span></td></tr><tr class="next_tenses"><td class="col1">Future</td></tr><tr class="next_tenses"><td class="col2">I, you, he, she, it, we, they</td><td class="col2"><span class="aux">will be </span><span class="verb_form">profiting</span></td></tr><tr class="next_tenses"><td class="col1">Future perfect</td></tr><tr class="next_tenses"><td class="col2">I, you, he, she, it, we, they</td><td class="col2"><span class="aux">will have been </span><span class="verb_form">profiting</span></td></tr><tr>
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